November 2008 Archives

The Dodge Ram has typically emphasized sportiness in a truck, a trend which began with the introduction of the second generation Ram in 1994.  The 360 powered Ram Sport laid the foundation, with trimlines like the SS/T, and when the SRT-10 Ram was introduced, it put a whole new meaning to the term "sport truck".  Since the demise of this V10 monster, Dodge lovers have pled for a new sporty truck, and the new Dodge Ram R/T Concept is exactly what many are hoping for with the redesigned Ram.




The heart of the Ram R/T Concept is the 5.7L Hemi, now offering 390 horsepower in normal (non-concept use) form.  To the stock engine, a Mopar performance cat-back exhaust system have been added, adding some power (no modified numbers have been given) and a nice throaty rumble. Ive also seen some sources make mention of a Mopar cold air intake kit, and while the hood was never open, at one point I took the liberty of opening the hood myself and it was just a basic 5.7L Hemi with the stock intake system.

It seems unlikely that a 268 horsepower electric powered Dodge concept wearing a Lotus body could beat a new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in a short race from a stop, but during a recent show-off session of the new Dodge EV, that was exactly what happened.

The Rose Bowl parking lot was the site of the showdown between high-performance and high technology, and the result helped to secure the idea that not all electric vehicles are just for low-cost commuting.  So many companies have turned to hybrid and electric vehicles as a solution for "responsible efficient transportation", that the enthusiasts' standpoint has been forgotten.  The alternative power vehicles are a great alternative for those who only use their car to get from point A to point B, but for many of us, driving is an enjoyable experience, and the Dodge EV plans to prove that electric vehicles can provide the same fun as a combustion engine powered vehicle.

Congratulations to both User2006 and LilSparkPlug for winning the truck and car of the month for November 2008. 

User2006's 2000 Dodge Dakota R/T won over two other Dakotas, owned by lghtngblt02 and altair.  

LilSparkPlug's 2004 Dodge Neon SRT4 beat rare aries' 1984 Chrysler 5th Avenue and silvercoupe97s 4G63T All Wheel Drive Avenger.

Thank you to everyone who participated and who voted in DodgeForum's Ride of the Month! For more information and pictures about this month's winning vehicles, click the link below!

Since the Challenger was introduced at the North American International Auto Show In Detroit, enthusiasts have hoped and prayed for a convertible version.  Drawings and edited pictures of droptop Challengers surfaced along the way, but nothing official has come from Ma Mopar, even though those "someone from Chrysler told me" rumors have kept the rumormill churning.  However, Coach Builders Ltd. has come to the rescue with their own Challenger convertible, and their model shown at SEMA 2008 was dressed to the nines for the event.

Over the past few years, I've spoken with a guy who runs a company called HXC Performance, and he went on about how his company would be offering a "Cuda" once the Dodge Challenger production models hit the streets.  However, this guy could never produce any proof that he had ever been involved in a project of this sort before, so I questioned the legitimacy of his claims.  Imagine my surprise when I walked up on this car, which looks at first glance to be a 1971 Cuda...but its actually an HXC Performance Cuda, and I'm here to say that I am impressed by their work.

Hurst Performance has made a name for itself by offering their quality performance shifters, and in their long and prestigious history, they have even dabbled in special edition trimlines, such as the Chrysler 300 Hurst and the Hurst Oldsmobiles.  The 2008 SEMA Show revealed to the world the newest installation in the Hurst legacy with the 2009 Hurst/Hemi Challenger, which is offered in four different "Series" options, with varying levels of modifications and performance.  The display car at the SEMA Show was the first unit of the Series 4 package, which is based on a Challenger SRT-8, packed with a 6.1L Hemi, and in this case, an automatic transmission.

The Mopar display was hard to miss at the SEMA Show, and the handful of dressed up and built up Challengers may have made this one easy to miss.  Near the back corner sat the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T named "Freda".  This model was referred to by a Dodge press release as the Challenger Blacktop, and it is the work of the Mopar Underground design team.

There has been no power estimate made, but the 5.7L Hemi engine has been improved upon by adding a cold air intake and set of headers, flowing through a Mopar exhaust system. 

The Mopar display of SEMA 2008 featured a panel of Mopar Performance celebrities, from NHRA Funny Car Champ Gary Scelzi to drift champ Sam Hubinette.  Behind them, this dimly lit stage with a menacing form hidden away under the car cover.  The Mopar folks were tight lipped about what was under the cover, telling media to come back at 4:30pm for the unveiling, but Sam Hubinette was kind enough to give a hint along the lines of "it's the next Mopar drift car...and it might be a Challenger."

The beginning of the SEMA Show 2008 is less than 24 hours away, and we are getting word of some of the last few show cars that will show up there.  The Challenger isn't the official car of the 2008 show, but there will be a tremendous amount of Challengers displayed by both Dodge and aftermarket companies.  A few more were announced this weekend, with Classic Design Concepts of Novi, Michigan showing off their Group 2 Widebody Challenger, available in both SRT-8 and R/T trimlines.  The other is the Group Five Limited Challenger Speedster, which is yet another convertible option that many hoped for, but Dodge failed to offer.